Arsenal have suffered a devastating blow after William Saliba was sidelined for three to four weeks, according to French reports. The centre-back was forced from the pitch just minutes into the Gunners’ loss against Liverpool. Saliba hobbled off with an ankle problem before withdrawing from international duty with France.
The 24-year-old could now be absent for a month as Arsenal seek to return to winning ways and Champions League action resumes after the international break. A statement from the French national squad earlier this week confirmed: “William Saliba, who started for Arsenal against Liverpool on Sunday, was forced off in the fifth minute.
“He will not be able to honour his call-up for the first training camp of the season. He is suffering from a sprained left ankle. After a discussion with Franck Le Gall, the French team doctor, Didier Deschamps confirmed the unavailability of William Saliba. The national coach has decided to call up Benjamin Pavard as a reinforcement.”
Saliba faces missing fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester City and a Carabao Cup clash against Port Vale, according to L’Equipe.
Should the Arsenal defender endure the worst-case scenario of the diagnosis, he will also be ruled out for encounters with Newcastle and Olympiacos and West Ham.
Summer acquisition Cristhian Mosquera, 21, emerged from the substitutes’ bench to take Saliba’s place against Liverpool.
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The Spanish defender was brought in from Valencia for £13million. Mikel Arteta secured additional defensive cover on transfer deadline day through the acquisition of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 23-year-old has joined on loan, with the north London club holding an option to make the deal permanent next summer.
Arteta expressed gratitude for having Mosquera available after Saliba sustained his injury during the warm-up at Anfield. Saliba initially thought he would be able to continue playing.
“He came in and he said he believed that he could carry on and play but straightaway in the first two actions I could see that he couldn’t cope and we had to get him out, unfortunately,” Arteta explained.
“But thank God we have Mosquera, which we put in for the first time in the Premier League, his debut[sic: Mosquera also came off the bench vs Leeds], not expecting it at Anfield and I think he was really, really good.”
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